Well, that's -almost- what I need. Maybe I should have given
more detail. Here's what I have (modified for simplicity).

A1 is a data|validation list dropdown that the user can select
one of three things from (stored over in R1:R3).
IF the user selects XX in A1, then I want B1 to be -another-
dropdown he can select one of two items in (stored in S1:S2).
But if the user selected YY in A1, then I want B1 to be a
single text item; no user choice in B1.
And if the user selected ZZ in A1, then I want B1 to be empty;
again no user choice in B1.

So, what I need in B1 is:

if (a1="XX", be_a_dropdown, if(a1="YY","singletext",""))

But I don't know how to encode "be_a_dropdown" to CHANGE B1
from a formula to a data|validation list dropdown in that one
case. I don't want the user to have to select something
somewhere ELSE to set it up, either.

I've already cheated with a "yes"/"no" dropdown elsewhere by
changing the list behind it to "yes"/"yes" in one case.
If that's the only way, I could do something similar here,
changing the contents of S1:S2, but that won't look as nice
as what I'm trying to get to.

Maybe I might have to get into some actual VBA coding to
change B1 when A1 is filled. That's beyond me right now,
but I can learn fast if it's the only option.

Mike

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:51:05 -0500, Dave Peterson <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com> wrote:

> I'd use a helper cell.
>
> Say A1 has the value to check
> B1 has the data|validation list
> Then in C1, I'd use:
>
> =if(a1="x","yourvalue",b1)
>
> Then use C1 in any calculation/formula later.
>
>
>
> "Broida (spamless)" wrote:
>>
>> Hi!
>> Thanks to help here, I now know how to set a cell to
>> allow the user to select items from a list elsewhere
>> in a spreadsheet. Data->Validation->List works great!
>>
>> But now I'd like to expand that. I want to make that
>> cell be a dropdown list SOMETIMES, but other times
>> force a specific value (or nothing) into it, all based
>> on the value of another cell.
>>
>> If I put in a validation rule, there's no provision
>> for doing an "if(x,y,z)" where either y or z makes a
>> dropdown list while the other one does not.
>>
>> How can I do this?
>>
>> Mike
>